We spoke to Daniella Topol, director of STRETCH (A FANTASIA), about her inspiration for directing the play, the difference in generations among cast members, and more. Check it out!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Get to Know our Managing Director Grace Grillet!
Our very own Grace Grillet, Managing Director of People's Light, was featured in County Lines Magazine - check out the article!
Friday, March 12, 2010
An Interview with Steve Umberger
King Lear director Steve Umberger tells us about working on one of William Shakespeare's greatest works.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
An Interview with Graham Smith
Actor Graham Smith, who plays the title role in King Lear, discusses his history with director Steve Umberger, and what it's like to be Lear.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
An Interview with Mary Elizabeth Scallen
People's Light Artistic Associate Mary Elizabeth Scallen talks about her beginnings with the Theatre, and her role in King Lear.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A Day in the Life - Joe O'Brien, KING LEAR
And next up we have Joe O'Brien, an Ensemble member in King Lear. This is Joe's second production with People's Light--he filled in for Jeffrey Coon as Prince Aiden of Sargasso for a week during last season's Cinderella. Welcome back, Joe! Now let's see those photos...
Props from King Lear--some dangerous-looking knives!
For those of you who have never had Puffins Peanut Butter Cereal, it is delicious.
A nice view of PLTC's 2 feet of snow, from Joe's room at the Farmhouse. That's the garden of Places! Bistro below.
Cast members (from left to right) Peter DeLaurier (Kent), Graham Smith (Lear) and Mark Lazar (Fool) during rehearsal. At the table to the right we have Stage Management Interns Mike Chittenden and Mary Pizzullo, and Stage Manager (and wife of Graham) Audrey Brown.
A King Lear book that has been seen being passed around by many of the cast members.
We don't have a production photo of Joe yet, so here's his headshot so that you can put a face to the name!
Props from King Lear--some dangerous-looking knives! 
For those of you who have never had Puffins Peanut Butter Cereal, it is delicious.
A nice view of PLTC's 2 feet of snow, from Joe's room at the Farmhouse. That's the garden of Places! Bistro below.
Cast members (from left to right) Peter DeLaurier (Kent), Graham Smith (Lear) and Mark Lazar (Fool) during rehearsal. At the table to the right we have Stage Management Interns Mike Chittenden and Mary Pizzullo, and Stage Manager (and wife of Graham) Audrey Brown. 
A King Lear book that has been seen being passed around by many of the cast members.
We don't have a production photo of Joe yet, so here's his headshot so that you can put a face to the name!A Day in the Life - Kevin Bergen, KING LEAR
This time around we asked Kevin Bergen, who is playing Edmund in King Lear, to take some photos to show what he sees in a normal day. Let's take a look!
Cast member Susan McKey (Regan) in the dressing room.
Cast members Andrew Kane (Burgundy), Ahren Potratz (Oswald), David Blatt (Ensemble) and Joe O'Brien (Ensemble).
Kevin's FaceBook page.
Graham Smith (Lear, left), and Stephen Novelli (Gloucester, right) in the dressing room.
The view from onstage--cast members (from right to left) Kim Carson (Cordelia), Graham Smith (King Lear), Mark Lazar (Fool), Lenny Haas (Cornwall), Ahren Potratz (Oswald) and Michael Stewart Allen (Albany).
Rehearsal room.
Kevin Bergen himself, and in the background, Christopher Patrick Mullen (Edmund's brother, Edgar).
Kevin as Sydney Carton in last season's A Tale of Two Cities.
Cast member Susan McKey (Regan) in the dressing room.
Cast members Andrew Kane (Burgundy), Ahren Potratz (Oswald), David Blatt (Ensemble) and Joe O'Brien (Ensemble).
Kevin's FaceBook page.
Graham Smith (Lear, left), and Stephen Novelli (Gloucester, right) in the dressing room.
The view from onstage--cast members (from right to left) Kim Carson (Cordelia), Graham Smith (King Lear), Mark Lazar (Fool), Lenny Haas (Cornwall), Ahren Potratz (Oswald) and Michael Stewart Allen (Albany).
Rehearsal room.
Kevin Bergen himself, and in the background, Christopher Patrick Mullen (Edmund's brother, Edgar).
Kevin as Sydney Carton in last season's A Tale of Two Cities.Friday, February 12, 2010
More Stories of Engagement
Chaz Brastow
Production Manager
Nathaniel would not speak at first. Through intervention he developed sign language to communicate his needs. It was frustrating for us, but especially for him. He would often cry because he had no vocabulary to vent. As he turned three he began to replace the signs with words.
People’s Light expanded their Summerstage program to include younger students just in time for Nathaniel. At first he didn’t want to participate, but quickly reversed his opinion after just a day with instructor Erin Weaver. He took ownership of the play development process and the team building exercises and utilized their lesson in his everyday interactions. He came back the next summer and the next. It was during this production that he caught the attention of Abbey, who watched him being so engaged. He was invited to audition for Getting Near to Baby.
It is a not an exaggeration to say that the play changed his life. His perceptions of the world have grown deeper and his relationships with teachers and students alike are more profound. Friends from his church in Frazer, his school in West Chester (Fern Hill Elementary), and his teammates from the West Chester United Soccer Club shared in the experience. Nathaniel had already been popular in school, but he became a leader. His public speaking and oral presentations are markedly enhanced and his writing presents a more compelling narrative. His ability to deconstruct books, movies, and plays is more illuminated as a result of his experience at People’s Light.
Tom Teti
Company Member
About twelve years ago, a young lad came to my teen class who was quite good, and a good boy. He told me that his Dad was interested in taking acting, perhaps he said he'd acted before. I met his father when he was picking him up one day. I was surprised that he was British. I gave him what information I knew, as I was not teaching adults at PLTC at that time. The boy was James Smith, his father was Gary. Gary went on to take class with Kathryn Petersen. In that connection they began to talk Panto. It resulted in Dick Whittington in our Out of the Box festival. Four years later, I meet a lawyer who tells me that she loved Dick Whittington so much that she always comes to the Panto on her birthday, and it has grown into a family event, from her twelve-year-old to her seventy-four-year-old mother and her sisters. One of the sisters has volunteered as an usher. She brought a friend to the theater who enrolled her daughters in classes. It gets passed on, if the welcome is real.
Production Manager
Nathaniel would not speak at first. Through intervention he developed sign language to communicate his needs. It was frustrating for us, but especially for him. He would often cry because he had no vocabulary to vent. As he turned three he began to replace the signs with words.
People’s Light expanded their Summerstage program to include younger students just in time for Nathaniel. At first he didn’t want to participate, but quickly reversed his opinion after just a day with instructor Erin Weaver. He took ownership of the play development process and the team building exercises and utilized their lesson in his everyday interactions. He came back the next summer and the next. It was during this production that he caught the attention of Abbey, who watched him being so engaged. He was invited to audition for Getting Near to Baby.
It is a not an exaggeration to say that the play changed his life. His perceptions of the world have grown deeper and his relationships with teachers and students alike are more profound. Friends from his church in Frazer, his school in West Chester (Fern Hill Elementary), and his teammates from the West Chester United Soccer Club shared in the experience. Nathaniel had already been popular in school, but he became a leader. His public speaking and oral presentations are markedly enhanced and his writing presents a more compelling narrative. His ability to deconstruct books, movies, and plays is more illuminated as a result of his experience at People’s Light.
Tom Teti
Company Member
About twelve years ago, a young lad came to my teen class who was quite good, and a good boy. He told me that his Dad was interested in taking acting, perhaps he said he'd acted before. I met his father when he was picking him up one day. I was surprised that he was British. I gave him what information I knew, as I was not teaching adults at PLTC at that time. The boy was James Smith, his father was Gary. Gary went on to take class with Kathryn Petersen. In that connection they began to talk Panto. It resulted in Dick Whittington in our Out of the Box festival. Four years later, I meet a lawyer who tells me that she loved Dick Whittington so much that she always comes to the Panto on her birthday, and it has grown into a family event, from her twelve-year-old to her seventy-four-year-old mother and her sisters. One of the sisters has volunteered as an usher. She brought a friend to the theater who enrolled her daughters in classes. It gets passed on, if the welcome is real.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Shakespeare Workshop Lesson Plan & Photos
On Friday, January 29th, King Lear fight director Samantha Bellomo and Resident Company members (and Lear cast members) Kevin Bergen and Mary Elizabeth Scallen led a Shakespeare workshop for teachers. Below is a link to the lesson plan that you can download and explore, as well as some photos from the workshop!
Download the lesson plan here.
Download the lesson plan here.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Update: Stories of Engagement
Winnie Killian
Administrative Assistant
When I think of someone staying involved with the theatre I think of me. I remember the day I drove past and my daughter said, "Turn in here, Mom. They need a receptionist.” So here I am, 14 years later. I went from part-time receptionist to full-time Subscriptions Manager and back to part-time receptionist. During that time, my family and friends have become active in life here at PLTC. We all look forward to plays, auctions, and Summerstage. The Panto has become a big part of our family holiday. We give tickets to friends as wedding and birthday gifts, and Owen passes out brochures at his office. A few from his office have become single ticket buyers and Family Series subscribers. I'm very happy I turned in here 14 years ago.
Each year I got a call from a man who just loved the Panto (and Andrea spoke to him again this year). His family holiday trip is to PLTC and they love to sit in the first row. One year I spoke to him while he was on the beach. He said his Christmas wouldn't be the same without the Panto!
Owen, my husband, works for a Dutch leasing company in Wayne called De Lage Landen Financial Services. He had been the Chief Risk Officer for the last 13 years before his semi-retirement last year and he still works there on a consulting basis. They often have people from the Netherlands staying here for a few years and also people transferring from around the US.
Emily, my granddaughter, loved Summerstage! She went last year and really looked forward to doing it again this year. She's in 2nd grade at St. Elizabeth School in Chester Springs. She had great stories each day on the drive home. She made instant friends with the other students and exchanged phone numbers for play dates. There were lots of hugs between the kids on the last day of class. She's quick to tell you that she knows the actors in the Panto and feels like a bit of an actor herself.
Ken Mumma
Board Member
My wife, Moira, and I attended plays on occasional basis.
I took an improvisation class for adults (and have regularly taken classes for 15 years since).
Moira and I became subscribers.
One of my instructors told me about People's Light’s work with kids, so I attended some elementary school performances.
I joined the Project Discovery Advisory Board.
Moira and I became annual donors.
I performed in the two Outside the Box seasons.
I founded New Century Bank.
I joined the board of People’s Light.
People's Light staff began using New Century Bank for their personal needs.
I co-chaired a charity auction for People’s Light, inviting our friends to participate
Moira's employer, Citizen Advocacy of Chester County, began using one dress rehearsal each year as an annual fundraiser.
New Century Bank provided a mortgage for People’s Light.
New Century Bank began purchasing subscriptions.
I participated in the Theatre’s Education Department Adult Ensemble production.
I co-chair the Theatre's current capital campaign.
Administrative Assistant
When I think of someone staying involved with the theatre I think of me. I remember the day I drove past and my daughter said, "Turn in here, Mom. They need a receptionist.” So here I am, 14 years later. I went from part-time receptionist to full-time Subscriptions Manager and back to part-time receptionist. During that time, my family and friends have become active in life here at PLTC. We all look forward to plays, auctions, and Summerstage. The Panto has become a big part of our family holiday. We give tickets to friends as wedding and birthday gifts, and Owen passes out brochures at his office. A few from his office have become single ticket buyers and Family Series subscribers. I'm very happy I turned in here 14 years ago.
Each year I got a call from a man who just loved the Panto (and Andrea spoke to him again this year). His family holiday trip is to PLTC and they love to sit in the first row. One year I spoke to him while he was on the beach. He said his Christmas wouldn't be the same without the Panto!
Owen, my husband, works for a Dutch leasing company in Wayne called De Lage Landen Financial Services. He had been the Chief Risk Officer for the last 13 years before his semi-retirement last year and he still works there on a consulting basis. They often have people from the Netherlands staying here for a few years and also people transferring from around the US.
Emily, my granddaughter, loved Summerstage! She went last year and really looked forward to doing it again this year. She's in 2nd grade at St. Elizabeth School in Chester Springs. She had great stories each day on the drive home. She made instant friends with the other students and exchanged phone numbers for play dates. There were lots of hugs between the kids on the last day of class. She's quick to tell you that she knows the actors in the Panto and feels like a bit of an actor herself.
Ken Mumma
Board Member
My wife, Moira, and I attended plays on occasional basis.
I took an improvisation class for adults (and have regularly taken classes for 15 years since).
Moira and I became subscribers.
One of my instructors told me about People's Light’s work with kids, so I attended some elementary school performances.
I joined the Project Discovery Advisory Board.
Moira and I became annual donors.
I performed in the two Outside the Box seasons.
I founded New Century Bank.
I joined the board of People’s Light.
People's Light staff began using New Century Bank for their personal needs.
I co-chaired a charity auction for People’s Light, inviting our friends to participate
Moira's employer, Citizen Advocacy of Chester County, began using one dress rehearsal each year as an annual fundraiser.
New Century Bank provided a mortgage for People’s Light.
New Century Bank began purchasing subscriptions.
I participated in the Theatre’s Education Department Adult Ensemble production.
I co-chair the Theatre's current capital campaign.
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